IT Career Juice Blog


Jumpstart your career with the latest and greatest news on IT hiring trends, emerging technologies, and the skills and certifications that modern employers demand. Blog posts are written by subject matter experts, and continually updated with current figures and analyses.


Recent Posts

CEH vs. PenTest+ Certification

A heads-up comparison of EC-Council's Certified Ethical Hacker (CEH) and CompTIA's PenTest+ professional certifications.

CEH vs PenTest

Cybersecurity is one of the top paying and fastest growing disciplines in the IT workforce. Among the myriad specializations in this field, ethical hacking and penetration testing are particularly sought-after due to the critical role they play in identifying and mitigating potential cyber attacks before they happen. Professional certifications like EC-Council’s Certified Ethical Hacker (CEH) and CompTIA's PenTest+ offer a pathway to demonstrate your expertise in these domains.

But when it comes to choosing between the two, which certificate should you pursue? This article will compare the CEH and PenTest+ certifications to help you make an informed decision.

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IT Degree vs. Computer Science Degree

A deep dive comparison of college degrees in information technology and computer science, including educational focus, core skills, career opportunities and earning potential.

IT vs Compsci degrees

In today's technology-driven world, pursuing a career in the lucrative and fast-growing tech space is a popular choice. However, when it comes to deciding between an Information Technology (IT) Degree and a Computer Science (CS) Degree, aspiring tech professionals can find themselves unsure of which path to take. Both disciplines offer numerous benefits and career opportunities, but they also have their own unique traits and considerations. In this article, we’ll highlight the key similarities and differences between IT and CS degrees, helping you make an informed decision about your learning plan and professional future.

Let’s begin with a simple side-by-side comparison of CS and IT degrees. We’ll dig deeper into the specifics later on.

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Top 5 IT Careers for Beginners

A breakdown of the best entry-level tech roles, including job descriptions, why it’s a good IT career for beginners, education requirements and salaries.

Best IT Careers for Beginners

Amidst rapid growth and recent innovations in the tech sector, there's no better time than now to start an IT career path. The information technology industry offers a range of entry-level jobs for recent college graduates or working adults looking to change professions. However, with so many options available, figuring out where to start your search can be daunting. In this article, we'll explore the top five IT careers for beginners, highlighting the roles and responsibilities for each, why it’s a good fit for beginners, training and certification requirements, and entry-level salaries.

In no particular order, here are the best IT careers for beginners:

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Is Computer Science a Good Major?

ITCareerFinder breaks down the pros and cons of majoring in computer science.

In our increasingly tech-driven world, computer science has emerged as a popular and promising undergraduate major. Aspiring CS professionals are drawn to the field for its exciting career opportunities, competitive salaries and broad applicability across industries. However, the pursuit of a computer science degree is not without challenges. From rigorous coursework to the fast-paced nature of the industry, there are several factors to consider before embarking on this academic journey. In this article, we will delve into the advantages and disadvantages of studying computer science, providing a comprehensive analysis to help prospective students make an informed decision about their education.

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Penetration Testing Certifications: Overview & Top 5 Certs

A guide to penetration testing certifications, including what they are, why they're valuable, and the best pen testing credentials for your cybersecurity career path.

This post will be updated annually with the top pen-testing certificates. Latest update: 2023

best penetration testing certifications

Penetration testing - a.k.a. “pentesting” - involves simulating attacks on networks and computer systems to identify vulnerabilities which can then be shored up by the cybersecurity team. Pen testing is a vital component of an organization’s information security strategy.

Pen testing certifications are professional credentials earned by IT security specialists who demonstrate a level of proficiency in this field. The leading pen-tester certificates are offered by various types of institutions, including cybersecurity industry associations, globally-recognized certifying bodies and technical training providers.

In this post, we will identify the best penetration testing certifications by experience-level and specialization. For each certificate we’ll highlight the key skills it covers, prerequisites, costs, benefits, training options and more.

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The Cheapest Online Computer Science Degrees

A quality college education isn't cheap - especially in a hot field like computer science - but deals abound if you know where to look. Here are some of our favorite affordable online CS degrees.

This article will be updated continually with the best cheap online computer science programs.

cheapest online computer science degrees

Some of today’s most lucrative IT careers are in fields like cloud computing, cyber security, software development, data analytics and artificial intelligence. While courses and certificates can help you get your foot in the door, the best jobs in these domains require at least a bachelor’s degree in computer science or a related field. This article will highlight some of the best online CS degrees in these fields that won’t break the bank.

With the proliferation of online learning, obtaining a computer science degree has never been easier or more affordable. According to the latest data from the Education Data Initiative, the average tuition price for an online bachelor’s program is a whopping $51,091 before financial aid and scholarships are applied. We analyzed the field of accredited comp-sci degrees under this price - most of which came in at a far lower cost - and selected the most relevant, high-quality and economical programs to compile this list of the cheapest online bachelor’s in computer science.

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Tech Layoffs in 2022 & 2023: An Overview

After a 2022 that saw massive layoffs in the high-tech workforce, 2023 is heralding more of the same.

tech layoffs 2023

In this article we'll identify which tech companies laid off the most workers, the reasons behind this ongoing spike in layoffs, and how you can boost your job security in a volatile IT workforce.

Layoffs data on this page will be updated continually. For up-to-the-minute layoff tracking, visit Layoffs.fyi - an aggregator of tech layoff announcements since the beginning of the Covid-19 pandemic.

Which tech companies are laying off workers?

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Top 10 IT Skills In-Demand for 2023

ITCareerFinder analyzes the latest technology trends and employment data to identify 10 IT skill sets that will boost your market value in 2023 (and beyond).

Top Information Technology Skills 2023

With more employers moving toward skills-based hiring and compensation models, acquiring new, in-demand skill sets is the key to remaining relevant and commanding higher pay in the coming year.

Assessments of recent job posting data confirm that skills, not degrees, are fast becoming the new currency of work.

For instance, the professional networking site LinkedIn has seen a 21% rise in job postings that advertise for skills and responsibilities rather than qualifications and requirements. Given the trend, there’s never been a better time to boost your abilities and your paycheck.

If you’re looking to advance your career by acquiring new technology skills in 2023, here are ten of the hottest areas you may want to consider and some of the best skills to learn in each:

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